Kitchen Fire A Reminder To Keep Eye On Cooking

A kitchen fire on Sunday caused $7,000 in damage to a home on Lindendale Road and injured one person who tried to extinguish the fire.

Although smoke alarms in the home worked and everyone escaped the home, the incident still worried fire and rescue officials enough to send out a press release today to remind residents to always keep an eye on food that is cooking in the kitchen.

The incident happened at about 3 p.m. Aug. 28 in the 13800 block of Lindendale Road. Fire and rescue units arrived to the single-family home to find the residents outside. A neighbor extinguished the fire with a dry chemical fire extinguisher after a family member was unsuccessful and sustained unknown injuries. Two adults and two children were home when the fire ignited and the injured family member was taken to a local hospital.

The cause was unattended cooking and has been determined accidental, according to a county press release. Cooking fires are the No. 1 cause of home fires and injuries.

The Prince William County Department of Fire and Rescue released the following tips:

• Stay in the kitchen when cooking.
• Turn off the stove if you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time.
• If you are simmering, baking, roasting or boiling food, check it regularly.
• Remain in the home while food is cooking.
• Use a timer to remind you that you are cooking.
• Keep anything that can catch fire away from your stove-top, such as oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains.
• Keep a metal lid nearby when you’re cooking to smother small grease fires.

Should a cooking fire occur, get out of the home and stay out, and close the door behind you to help contain the fire. Call 911.